Tappan Zee Bridge To Be Blown Up

Weather permitting, the Tappan Zee Bridge, which connects Rockland and Westchester counties, will be demolished with explosives on Saturday around 9:30 a.m., according to the New York Times.

It will take less than 30 seconds for the 6,5000 ton 672-foot east span to hit the Hudson River. Explosives have been used to destroy other old bridges in New York.

The hope was to not use explosives and take the bridge down piece-by-piece because it's unclear how explosives might impact fish and wildlife in the Hudson River. But back in September, workers heard loud popping sounds while taking apart the east span making officials worried the bridge could collapse.

“Through extensive engineering analysis, it has been determined that this is the safest method to proceed with lowering the span given its current state,” Tappan Zee Constructors, the company responsible for taking down the bridge, said in a statement, according to the New York Times.
Concerns from the popping sounds caused a delayed opening for parts of the Tappan Zee Bridge's replacement, the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.